Kevin Hudson Kevin Hudson went from designing buildings to designing players. In his twelfth year at Lee, serving as Director of Campus Recreation and assistant volleyball coach, Hudson is shaping new players’ skills like he once envisioned shaping skylines. Hudson studied architecture for four years before changing his plans and studying Fitness and Wellness at Lee. He then went to University of Tennessee at Knoxville for an master’s degree in recreation management. An avid outdoorsman, architecture did not provide the environment he was craving. “That job is so much more time tied into the office and business than I was interested in,” he said. His office is decorated with drawings from his days of design. “I was pretty good at the drawing part, the conceptual design part, I wasn’t so good at,” said Hudson, despite the fact that he designed the home that he and his wife – and Lee head volleyball coach - Andrea, share. At Lee, Hudson found the outdoor life he was looking for by teaching students to enjoy the outdoors. He manages the recreation facilities, oversees the intramural and club sports programs and the outdoor recreation program. By leading students on rafting, hiking and skiing trips he gets to enjoy the outdoors he loves while fulfilling another passion: teaching. “I love when we teach somebody a new lifetime skill. I love when somebody learns something they can enjoy the rest of their lives,” said Hudson. “I love when that thing clicks, that ‘wow’ moment.” His job has changed over the years to a more administrative position, but he still teaches beginning and intermediate skiing with Andrea, and he still gets to interact with  the volleyball team. In fact, he gets to interact with two volleyball teams. Hudson coaches a high school club team in Chattanooga on the side. And his favorite part of coaching is the players. “When you see them succeed on the court, there’s a certain amount of pride in that,” said Hudson, who thinks of the players as his children. He and Andrea have even boarded players in their home over the summer when campus housing is unavailable. Hudson came to Lee in 1992 when Andrea asked him to help her coach the team and came on full-time in 1995. A native Clevelander who has tried a few different possibilities says he has found the right fit at Lee. “After seeing how Lee works as an outsider, a student and then as staff, I love the way Lee does things. I’m a big believer in having a mission in what you do, and Lee has that. The people here are committed to the mission,” said Hudson. “A lot of places have a lot of turnover with people looking for the right fit. I have a good fit here.”   Posted on - 02/07/07